Staples awards over $500K to eco-responsible schools

[Anonymous]

Staples Canada awards over $500,000 in computer lab makeovers to eco-responsible schools across Canada
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Apr  2012  — Staples Canada is giving over $500,000 worth of computer equipment to 20 schools across Canada in recognition of their eco-responsible improvements. The Staples Canada Eco Computer Lab Contest is one of many in a long list of environmental initiatives created and supported by Staples Canada.

Elementary and secondary public school students were asked to write a 300-word essay describing what their school is doing to make environmental improvements to their school and communities. The essays were then judged by four industry expert panelists: Jed Goldberg from Earth Day Canada, Scott Alic from Earth Cycle Planning, Wade Humphries from Direct Energy and Gordon Harrison from GreenLearning Canada. You can read more about each of the panelists here.

The winning schools were selected based on environmental attributes, school and student leadership and community influence. The winning schools demonstrated innovative environmental initiatives such as planting gardens, community clean ups and waste-less lunches.

"We were very impressed with the forward-thinking initiatives that these bright young students are participating in at school and in the community," said Steve Matyas, President of Staples Canada. "We’re thrilled to provide new computer labs that will help them learn more about the environment."

The 20 schools being awarded $25,000 computer labs for their outstanding green efforts are:

— Mother Teresa High School — Ottawa, ON

— David Thompson Secondary School — Vancouver, BC

— Ecole Sacre Coeur — Georgetown, ON

— Cedarview Middle School — Nepean, ON

— Ecole Gron Morgan School — Thunder Bay, ON

— Mere d’Youville — Port Cartier — QC

— Lake Cowichan Secondary School — Lake Cowichan, BC

— Brookhaven Public School — Toronto, ON

— Langstaff Secondary School — Richmond Hill, ON

— Joseph Giles Elementary — Halifax, NS

— Agincourt Jr. Public School — Scarborough, ON

— Heritage Park Public School — Toronto, ON

— Seaquam Secondary School — Delta, BC

— Ecole Elementaire Catholique Saint Isidore — St. Isidore, ON

— Queen Street Public School — Brampton, ON

— Bowen Island Community School — Bowen Island, BC

— Annette Street Jr/Sr Public School — Toronto, ON

— Sacred Heart — Midland, ON

— Reynolds Secondary School — Victoria, BC

— Catherine-Soumillard — Lachine, QC

The Staples Canada Eco Computer Lab contest program was piloted in 2010 with one school being awarded a complete computer lab. It has since expanded to provide 20 Canadian schools with brand new computer labs. The program is open to all elementary and public schools across Canada. For more details, please visit http://www.staples.ca/recycleforeducation .

About Staples Canada’s Environmental Initiatives

Staples Canada is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner. The retailer operates as an environmental advocate in all aspects of its business and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability in a variety of different ways, such as: offering a large selection of sustainable products; easy recycling services, including acting as drop-off locations for customers interested in properly recycling empty ink and toner cartridges, old cell phones and batteries as well as obsolete electronics. Staples Canada has also accomplished a great deal in the area of Energy Efficiency, converting stores and reducing electrical consumption. Staples Canada is also driving sustainable change and awareness within our communities supporting organizations such as Earth Canada and developing corporately funded programs such as the Staples Canada Recycle for Education Eco Computer Lab Contest, donating technology equipment and services to eco-responsible schools across the country.

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April 17, 2012 at 7:33 AM